Quiz: Minor Memory Lapse … or Something More?

Alzheimer’s disease may be the most dreaded condition when we think of living a long life, but minor memory lapses or occasional confusion or disorientation don’t always signal the worst-case scenario. Wondering what else can cause such symptoms? Take our quiz to find out.

1. Mental decline, serious enough to interfere with daily life, is a normal part of aging.

a) True

b) False

2. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are:

a) Two different diseases

b) Different names for the same disease

c) May or may not be the same disease

3. Memory lapses may be:

a) The result of a minor head injury

b) A drug side effect

c) Due to a nutritional deficiency

d) A symptom of stress

e) Due to sleep apnea

f) One or more of the above

4. One reason why alcoholism can cause disorientation and memory loss is because it depletes which vitamin?

a) Vitamin A

b) Vitamin B

c) Vitamin B

d) Vitamin B

5. A deficiency of which essential vitamin may be a cause of confusion, disorientation, and memory problems?

a) Vitamin A

b) Vitamin B

c) Vitamin B

d) Vitamin C

e) Vitamin E

f) A combination of the above

6. Which of these can cause symptoms that mimic dementia?

a) An underactive thyroid

b) An overactive thyroid

c) Either one

7. Which of these oils may reduce amyloid plaques in the brain, a sign of Alzheimer’s disease?

a) Canola oil

b) Safflower oil

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

c) Cottonseed oil

d) Olive oil

8. Many Alzheimer’s patients have experienced improvement with coconut oil or an extract of a type of fat found in coconut oil. What type of fat is it?

a) Short chain triglycerides

b) Medium chain triglycerides

c) Long chain triglycerides

Did you know?

Drinking black, green, or oolong tea halves the risk for Alzheimer’s, even among people who are genetically predisposed to the disease, according to a study of 957 older adults with an average age of 65. The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, also found that tea drinkers with the APOE4 gene, the marker for high Alzheimer’s risk, were less likely to develop the disease than people without the gene who didn’t drink tea.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

Quiz Answers

1. b) Serious mental decline is not a normal part of aging.

2. c)Dementia is not, medically speaking, a disease, but an umbrella term that describes a loss of mental abilities, such as memory, to a degree that interferes with daily life, along with physical changes in the brain. Between 60 and 80 percent of dementia in the U.S. is Alzheimer’s disease, but dementia may also be a sign of other conditions.

3. f) Any one of these, or a combination, can lead to memory lapses, and it’s important to identify the underlying trigger.

4. b) Alcoholism depletes vitamin B, also called thiamine.

5. c) Lack of vitamin B can cause dementia-like symptoms. B levels can be tested by a doctor.

6. c) An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is the more common of these two conditions, but an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can also cause dementia-like symptoms.

7. d) Extra virgin olive oil reduced amyloid plaques in animal brains in research at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia.

8. b)Coconut oil is rich in medium chain triglycerides (MCT for short), so-called because of its chemical structure. Both coconut and MCT oils can be taken as supplements or eaten as an oil on salads or other foods.

Joint problems become more common with age, but they aren’t inevitable. A diet that’s low in refined carbs and oils, but rich in anti-inflammatory fats and fresh veggies, helps to keep joints healthy. But there’s more to know. Wondering what? Take our quiz to find out.

We can’t live without water. It’s essential for controlling body temperature, eliminating waste, flushing out toxins, protecting organs, lubricating tissues and joints, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells, and making minerals and other nutrients absorbable. But are you getting enough? Take our quiz to find out

Regardless of where you live-in a hot, sunny climate or further north-it's quite possible that you aren't getting enough of the sunshine vitamin. It's estimated that 80 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. To test your knowledge of this essential nutrient, take our quiz.

Food waste is a bigger issue than we may think. Worldwide, one-third of all food is wasted, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Being more aware of the problem may help us think of ways to waste less, and this quiz can help you get started.

Fiber isn’t only essential for regularity. It helps with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight, reduces risk of heart disease and diabetes, helps stabilize levels of blood sugar, can lower elevated cholesterol, and helps prevent hemorrhoids and diseases of the colon—but most of us don’t get enough. To see how well you know your fiber facts, try our quiz.

Sugar excess is one of the biggest food problems of our time. It has been linked to heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and gout. The more you know, the easier it is to make healthy choices and avoid the not-so-sweet pitfalls. Take our quiz to test your sugar smarts.